Festivities March 24th through March 26thGiveaways, Demos and the Opportunity to win a $500 Jo-Ann Shopping Spree

HUDSON, OH (March 17, 2011)– Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the leading fabric and craft specialty retailer in America, is celebrating five grand openings on March 24. Sewers and crafters in these communities now have brand new locations where they can shop, discover and save with a wide selection of merchandise and inspiration. From scrapbooking, sewing and knitting, to beading, cake decorating and more, these stores offer a vast assortment of crafting, floral and seasonal accessories, an extensive selection of fabrics for apparel, crafting, quilting, and home decorating, as well as home-décor items. Join the celebration March 24-26 at the following locations:

“As we open these new stores, we are pleased to offer our customers dynamic new product lines, enhanced in-store presentations, higher quality fabrics, and regionalized product offerings,” said Darrell Webb, chairman and CEO for Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. “Combined with the expertise of our store team members, product demonstrations, and project inspiration, these new stores will be a one-stop creative destination in their communities.”

Grand opening festivities will begin Thursday, March 24 and run through Saturday, March 26, with doors opening at 9 a.m. each day. Among the exciting activities at each of these stores during the three-day grand opening celebration:

Enter to Win! – each day, one winner will be selected to receive a $500, $100 or $50 Jo-Ann gift card*

Great Giveaways! - the first 100 guests each day will receive a $10 Jo-Ann gift card

Hot Offers! - special grand opening sales and offers throughout the store

Free Reusable Tote Bag! – customers who spend $25 or more each day will receive a free tote bag (while supplies last)

Teacher Appreciation Day – all day Saturday; teachers receive 20% off their total purchase with current teacher ID

Free Jo-Ann creative demonstrations – each day, starting at 11 a.m.

Learn with Jo-Ann – class open house on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.; save 50% on select classes

Make It-Take It – kids can make a Crayola® craft to take home, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (while supplies last)

Inspired to HelpIn celebration of these new locations, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores will make a donation to locally support education. One school in each community will receive a $2,000 grant which will be used to fund a project of their choosing. In addition, coin boxes are located near store cash registers to collect donations to support The American Heart Association. The AHA continues to be a significant recipient of Jo-Ann giving. The company, team members and generous customers provided more than $183,000 to the AHA through the coin box donations and various campaigns in 2010. Finally, these new stores will all participate in merchandise donation programs to benefit national non-profit partners including Goodwill Industries International, Inc. “As a proud community supporter, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores is pleased to be able to make an impact locally - not only during our grand opening celebrations, but in our ongoing efforts,” states Webb.

About Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores (NYSE: JAS) the nation’s largest fabric and craft retailer with locations in 48 states, was founded in 1943 as a single retail store. Today, more than 750 Jo-Ann stores across the country provide consumers with creative inspiration. These new stores represent five of approximately 60 new locations Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores anticipates opening across the country this year. In addition, approximately 60 stores will be remodeled. For additional information, visit http://www.joann.com/.*Contest open to legal U.S. residents who have reached age of majority. No purchase necessary. See store for complete details and rules.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.